Kite



Aug. 13, 1929. E. a. wlLm-: 1,724,539

KITE

Filed NOV. 5, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l Allg- 13, l929- E. B. wlLDER 1,724,539

KITE

Filed Nov. 5. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheetv 2 Patented Aug. 13, 1929'.

FUNiTEfD ,STATES EDWARD B. WILDER, OF LOUIS,l MISSOURI.

KITE.

.Application led November 5, `1927. Serial No. 231,283.

invention :relates 'to kites, and has moreA particular reference to a kite arranged to simulate an aeroplane.

- O ne of the objects of the'present invention is the provision of a kite of the char-y acter described that will automatically maintainfitself in a condition of equipoise when being` floated in the air With its flying line undei' tension, no tail being needed.

Another object is to provide la kite of the character stated that may be easily assembled or .disasse1nbled, and. which, when disassembled, Will occupy very little space.

,Another object is the provision of a simple frame structure for the kite that combines rigidity with lightness.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the course of the following description ofan embodiment of the invention that has been selected for the purpose of illustrating the invention, but not for the purpose of limiting the invention thereto.

4In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, in which like numbers of reference denote like parts Wherever they occur,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the kite;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary enlargement sectional view taken on the line 2-2 in Figure 6;

Figures 3, 4, and 5 are fragmentaryenlargement sectional views taken on the lines 3 3, 1 -4, and 5-5, respectively, in Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a plan View of the. kite;

Figure 7 is an anterior end View; and

Figure 8 is an enlargement sectional view taken on the 4line 8 8 in Figure 6.

The kite comprises a body or fuselage 1 having a head 2 and a tail 3 separated by an open frame 4, in combination with a wing 5 at the head 2 that is elongated laterally to extend from both sides of the head. The Wing 5 comprises spaced-apart anterior and posterior struts 6 and 7, respectively, that are connected by an intervening web or sheet 8. The said struts are preferably in the form of light, thin and comparatively Wide Wood sticks having longitudinally extending slits 9 in their ends to receive the ends of strings or flexible ties 10 that connect the respective corresponding ends of the struts 6 and 7. Strut 7 is preferably shorter than strut 6, so that the ties 10 are disposed obliquely to the struts. The struts 6 and 7 and the strings 10 define the edges of the wing 5, and are secured to the sheet 8 by enclosing thembetween the sheet and the .folded-over marginal portions 11 of the sheet, the sheet and theoverlapped marginal portions thereofbeing preferably secured together and to the respective strings or sticks by some suitable. adhesive. The anterior strut 6 is preferably bowed by means of a chord string 12 so that the anterior. portion of thegwing presents a. convex face. Theends of string 12 pass through the s1its;9, one end being enthrough the slitthereat and the other end ltvbeing tied around the engaged end of the stick 6. The length of the ychord portion of the string 12 determines the degree 0f curvature of the stick 6 and this may be adjusted by Wrapping more or less of the string 12 around the end of the stick 6. The slits 9 are narrower than the strings 10 and 12 so that the ends of thestiings Will be held therein by friction. A pair of tabs 15, preferably formed of stout card board, are attached by wire staples 16 0r other suitable fastening means to -the upper side of the stick G nearV and at equal distances from the middle of the-Wing. The anterior end 17 of each tab 15 projects forwardly of the Wing and declines therefrom and is perforated to form an eye or socket 18 adapted to receive an anteriorly directed projection of the fuselage, as Will presently appear. Sheet 8 may be formed of light strong paper or other suitable material.

The frame 4 of the fuselage comprises a pair of spaced-apart substantially parallel upper struts 19, a third strut 20 disposed substantially parallel to and intermediary of the said pair of struts 19 but lower than the plane of the latter, a, pair of more slender oblique struts 21 Vthat connect the anterior end of strut 20 with the anterior ends of the struts 19, respectively, a similar pair of oblique struts 22 that connect the strut 20 with the struts 19, respectively, at the anterior end of the tail 3 of the fuselage 1, and a strut 23 that connects the rear ends of the struts 19. The struts are preferably formed of light strong wood sticks. Struts 19 are flexibly attached to struts 21 and 22 by adhesive tape 24 or other suitable means, and struts 22 are HeXibly attached to strut 20 by a pair of adhesive tapes 25 on respective opposite sides of the struts.

largediby almot .13 toxprevent slippage Strut 2O is flexibly attached to struts 21 by adhesive tape 26 that is bent at the anterior edges of the struts to straddle them and adhere to the opposite sides thereof. ,A sheet of paper er other suitable material extends from the strut 2O to the struts 19 on either side under the wing to form the head 2 of the fuselage. The anterior edge 27 of sheet 2 is foldedv over to cover the struts 21 and the anterior end of strut 2O and the associated tapes', andthe lateral edges 28 of the sheet are folded over to cover the struts 19, the folded edges being secured to the body of the sheet and to the struts and tapes by adhesive or other suitable means. A nother sheet of paper or other suitable material extends from the strut 2O to the struts 19 on eitlier'side at' the rear end of the frame to form the tail 3 of the fuselage. The anterior edge 29 of of sheet 3 is folded over to cover the struts 22 and associated tapes, and the lateral edges 30 of sheet 3 are folded over to cover the struts 19, the folded edges being attached to the body of the sheet; and to the struts and tapes by adhesive or other suitable fastening means. Strut 23 is preferably secured to struts 19 by means offiexible wires 31 that pass vthrough apertures 32 in the ends of the strut 23 and througli apertures 33 in the she-et 3-and that are tied around the struts 19. The anterior ends 34 of struts 19 project beyond the edge 27 of the head 2 and are adapted to enter the sockets 18 of the Wing 5. To attach the fuselage to the wing, the projections 34 of the fuselage are inserted into the sockets 1.8 of the wing so that the sticks 19 lie against the face of the wing. are tied around the stick 7 in juxtaposition to the sticks 19, being passed through'holesl 36 in the sheet 8 and their free ends being drawn, through holes 37 in the sticks 19 until stick 7 is pulled sufliciently rearward to spread the sheet 8 taut and to pull tabs 15 tightly against the anteriorI edge 27 of the head 2 so that ends-34 of'sticks 19 will be securely lodged in the sockets 18, the free ends of the wire then being securely tied or wrapped around the sticks 19 to maintain the wing in its taut condition. A fiying line or string 38 is secured to the nose 39 of the fuselage, being passed through holes 40 therefor in the tape 26 and sheet 2 and being` tied around the stick 20. It will be observed that-'the hole 40 in tape 2G reinforces the sup-erposed hole 4() in sheet 2.

It will be observed that the flexible tape joints that connect the component elements of the fuselage frame enable the fuselage, when detached from the wing, to be closed like a book from its V-shape to a compact shape in which the sides ofthe fuselage are Flexible wires 35A face of' 'the'kite squarely against'tliewind' and the rearwardly elongated fuselage tends' to balance the resultant of the force. exerted by the pressure'of the4 Wing and the pu'llof' the flying stringyto-maintain the kite ina' condition of equipoise when: it isV beingv flown. The. posterior" strut 7 is' normally straight, thereby aiding the-lift of'the kite, and, being'wide and thin, isflexurallyresi'l ient, so that it Will'yield and renderthesanterior portion of* the faceof the wingconvex in proportion to the Wind` pressure thereon, thereby automatically adjusting thewingfor a condition of equipois'e' suitable tothe windi pressure. The bowing "-'of' the `Wing, also, renders it more rigid and"stiffens'it against the pressure ofthe'v'wind without'adding to the weight of thef'rame. The anteriorportion of the Wing being longer than theposei'ior portion' results in' a' better balancing of the kite. I i

The present application does not" claim broadly a kite 'in generali having aresiliently bowable frame, aslthis'feature is claimedin applicants companion application for an'- othcr form of kite and designated as CaseA, the instant applica-tion: being distinguished therefrom by the 'appendageto the title of the term Case B.

Having thusv fully described this invention, l hereby reserve the benefit of' allv changes in form, arrangement, order, or use of parts, as it is evident that many minor changes may be made therein Without departing from the spirit-of this invention or the scope of the following claim.

I claim:

A kite of the character described comprising a fuselage, and a Wing vdisposed rea-r- Wardly thereof and' extending laterally thereacross and provided WithV spacedsapart sockets at' its anterior portion, the said1 fuselage bearing anteriorly directed projections adapted to enter the-saidsockets, and means connecting the posterior portion ofthewing to the fuselage and adjustable to-urge the fuselage forwardly so that the projections thereon enter the said sockets.

In. testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

EDWARD B. VILDER. 

